Word Origin & History

allegiance c.1400, from Anglo-Fr. legaunce "loyalty of a liege-man to his lord," from O.Fr. legeance, from liege (see liege); erroneously associated with L. ligare "to bind;" corrupted in spelling by confusion with the now-obsolete legal term allegeance "alleviation." General figurative sense of "recognition of claims to respect or duty" is attested from 1732.

Example Sentences for allegiance

In return for their allegiance, he bailed them out of jail when necessary.

The sight of the wedding-ring brought him back to his allegiance.

He demanded to be permitted to make a solemn affirmation or declaration of allegiance, instead of taking the usual oath.

They thought themselves absolved from all allegiance to him.

His first step was to recall Regingar of Lothringia, who was oppressed by France, to his allegiance as vassal of the empire.

Our enemy professes no allegiance to the laws of morality nor to the laws of God.

Was it wise to trust such a weighty matter to one who owed no allegiance to the Czernovese government?

Spies would swallow the oath of allegiance as easy as water.

Nevertheless Sir Austin had only to be successful, and this lady's allegiance was his for ever.

She is only longing to tell you that she has never really swerved from her allegiance.'